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The final sweeping out of this house occurred about 15 years ago. It has sat empty ever since, for sale and sale pending several times. There is a feeling of the building holding its breath as it awaits what is to come. Waiting to see in anyone will inhabit these rooms even as commercial space of some sort. The whole 40+ acres is due to become part of an artisan village, so maybe the building will be reused. The bones are good, the 1960’s and 70’s updates not so much. Time will tell whether or not it is reused or leveled. I always cringe a bit the occasional times I drive past it, half afraid I will see rubble.

Sunday we visited the Lexington/ Concord Massachusetts area. There were several old houses along our walk that sit in isolated locations, the road at a distance. Time capsules of a sort, neither in use nor out, their windows continue to watch the world go by. Only memories inhabit these houses, unless you believe in spirits or ghosts. How many tracks has the sun cut along these floors, sweeping across it and illuminating the dust motes. How many storms have battered the walls, cold drafts sneaking in to chill the ankles of those gathered around the fireplace. How many small feet pattered through the rooms, out the doors and on the stairs. While the building might not be old in comparison to castles and ancient dwellings, it is still part of a full, rich human history that is timeless.

This image is from the backside of a house that was undergoing demolition. As I was getting images before the whole historic building was gone, I peeked into this section that was a late and unattractive addition and liked what I saw texture-wise. Now I wish I had gotten even more pictures, ah well.

This fall while poking around an old. empty house I noticed this tiny stamp stuck on the mantle. As the house has sat empty for years, though this was my first foray inside, I do not know if the stamp was put there decades ago or more recently. It appears to be a stamp from Chile, and in that old green and off white color of days gone by. I have kept an eye on the house all these years since seeing the estate sale on the lawn close to a decade ago, always expecting it to have been torn down. It was a farm and sits on 40 some acres right on a busy state route, and since big box stores have been filling in all along the route I know it is just a matter of time. It is also possible it will go to upscale homes with a fancy sign saying Pheasant Ridge Run or some such overdone name. It is completely unlikely it will be restored. I will post some other photos over the next week so you can get a feel for the place, as it does have a story that is all but lost except for these images.There is not enough postage affixed to save it. Such is life.

This house is just a couple of streets away from the studios, though I didn’t happen upon it while out walking. I found it online in a piece about unusual houses and wanted to see it for myself. It seemed like just the right image for wrapping up this week, which has been evenly good. And I am savoring it as I know the ebb and flow that goes on in life. Anyhow, this is the Bower’s House (Lowell Massachusetts) if anyone wants to look it up and get some more information. I have seen a number of octagonal houses, with the chimney in the center so each room was served by a fireplace before central heating. But I can’t recall seeing a round house, though maybe it has slipped for my mind. I do wonder what it would be like to live in a place where the rooms are pie shaped, or at least where 1 wall doesn’t have 4 right angle corners. Would it be disconcerting or comforting? What would it be like to see a whole neighborhood of this shape house?

Anyhow, it is fun to see something so unique still being used as a dwelling.

I have been keeping an eye on this house over the years since before I saw the for sale sign in the yard. I figured it wouldn’t be sold to someone for a residence, but might be used as a business.

When I saw the large metal building go up in back I thought the structure was doomed for demolition.

But the good news is that it appears it is being salvaged to be used elsewhere. The timber frame is all tagged with numbered metal discs.

The windows are all stacked inside against the central fireplace that at one point provided the heat and cooking space for the house. The base of the chimney on the floor must be close to 6 feet across. There is no cellar beneath the granite slabs of the foundation, just a crawl space.

The front and side doors are still in their places, allowing the building to be somewhat secure. I was able to peek into the house through the round holes from when insulation was blown in, and from just above the sill plate.

This cool doorknob is on the back lean-to that was most certainly a late addition as it doesn’t match the rest of the house. There is more to share about this house, and I will do so in future posts.